VERSATILE STEREOTACTIC DEVICE AND METHODS OF USE

• US 20010020127A1
• Filed: 06/04/1997
• Published: 09/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brigham and Women's Hospital Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brigham and Women's Hospital Incorporated
• Inventors: OSHIO, KOICHI, PANYCH, LAWRENCE P., GUTTMAN, CHARLES R. G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,684,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/429
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00694 with means correcting for movement of or for synchronisation with the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/364 Correlation of different images or relation of image positions in respect to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/14 Fixators for body parts, e.g. skull clamps; Constructional details of fixators, e.g. pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

A stereotactic device for use with an imager such as a magnetic resonance imager is disclosed, which permits an imaging scan to be taken with reference to a personal coordinate system (or PCS) that is independent of a machine coordinate system (or MCS). Methods using the device to obtain imaging scans are described such that the imaging scans are superimposable even if taken at different time periods using the same or a different imager. The device comprises a frame that can be reproducibly positioned on a subject and which is equipped with non-invasive affixing means and localizing means that provide the PCS. The device and methods of the invention are particularly well suited for routine initial or follow-up examinations, pre-surgical planning and post-surgical evaluation. Markers on a stereotactic device can be tracked during an MRI scan to compensate for patient motion during the scan.

Claims

1. A method of using a radiographic device, comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a personal coordinate system referenced to the body of a living organism;

b. establishing a linkage between said personal coordinate system and a machine coordinate system of said radiographic device; and

c. translating data captured in said machine coordinate system to data referenced in said personal coordinate system.

2. The method of

claim 1

in which said step of establishing a linkage includes calculating a transformation matrix linking said personal coordinate system and said machine coordinate system.

3. The method of

claim 1

in which said step of establishing a linkage includes calculating a rotation matrix and a translation vector linking said personal coordinate system and said machine coordinate system.

4. The method of

claim 2

in which said step of establishing a linkage includes calculating a transformation matrix linking said personal coordinate system and said machine coordinate system using only a single slice of radiographic data.

5. The method of

claim 2

in which said step of establishing a linkage includes calculating a transformation matrix linking said personal coordinate system and said machine coordinate system using two or more slices of radiographic data.

6. A system for reproducible capturing radiographic images, comprising:

a. a radiographic scanner;

b. a stereotactic device; and

c. a computer controlling said radiographic scanner and receiving output information from said scanner to detect the location and orientation of said stereotactic device.

7. A system of

claim 6

in which said computer is configured to store data referenced to a coordinate system defined with reference to the location and orientation of said stereotactic device.

8. The system of

claim 7

in which said computer is configured to translate position information controlling said radiographic scanner into position information referenced to said coordinate system defined with reference to the location and orientation of said stereotactic device.

9. A system for reproducible capturing radiographic images, comprising:

a. a network;

b. a radiographic scanner;

c. a stereotactic device; and

d. a computer, connected to said network, controlling said radiographic scanner and receiving output information from said scanner to detect location and orientation of said stereotactic device.

10. The system of

claim 9

in which said network is connected to one or more of (a) a host computer, (b) a workstation and (c) a gateway.

11. A computer program product comprising:

a. a memory; and

b. a computer program stored on said memory, said computer program containing instructions for a. establishing a personal coordinate system referenced to the body of a living organism; and

b. establishing a linkage between said personal coordinate system and a machine coordinate system of a radiographic device.

12. The computer program product of

claim 11

in which said computer program further contains instructions for translating data captured in said machine coordinate system to data referenced in said personal coordinate system.

13. A computer program product comprising:

a. a memory; and

b. a computer program stored on said memory, said computer program containing instructions for determining location and orientation of a stereotactic device.

14. The computer program product of

claim 13

, in which the instructions for determining location and orientation of a stereotactic device determine location and orientation from data from a single slice of radiographic data.

15. The computer program product of

claim 13

, in which the instructions for determining location and orientation of a stereotactic device determine location and orientation from data from two or more slices of radiographic data.

16. A method of using a radiographic device, comprising the steps of:

a. fitting a stereotactic device to the body of a living organism so that the fitting is reproducible; and

b. using the stereotactic device to determine the location of one or more data points from one or more radiographic scans of said body.

17. A method of correcting an imaging plane during data acquisition using magnetic resonance imaging, comprising the step of:

capturing the location of a plurality of markers on a stereotactic device, using a video camera, and

using image data from the video camera to compensate for patient motion during magnetic resonance imaging.